Her Life's Journey:

Pearly Mae Neal was delivered on April 24, 1940 as one of the adored daughters of the late Willie T. and Alberta Neal in Ruleville, Mississippi.  Pearl had resilient faith in God, and she was a born warrior-- she accepted Christ very early in life, she was baptized in Jesus' name by Pastor Terry jones and was a member of the Apostolic Faith Church under the leadership of Elder Terry Jones in Cleveland, Mississippi.  She loved her children, grandchildren, and her family deeply, and she always mad sure that everyone knew this.  She often spoke about her love for school and wanted to become a teacher (she was Booda's first teacher), and she was a whiz at mathematics; she received her education in the Ruleville school system.  She later relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, where she lived for many years.  While there, she was a child caregiver for the state of Missouri for more than 10 years, she also worked as a seamstress.  Her favorite pastimes were cooking, doing 1,000+ jigsaw puzzles, watching game shows (Wheel of Fortune was her absolute favorite), and crocheting and knitting.  And she could iron a pleat like a master!  Her favorite movie stars were Charleston Heston, John Wayne and Kevin Costner.

Pearly was a pillar in the lives of many.  She hared a special bond with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, all of her nephews and nieces...she truly loved her family!  Those who knew Pearly will remember her warmth, her sense of humor, her warrior strength, and her unwavering faith.  She was the kind of woman who made everyone feel like family and feel loved all at the same time.  Her love and kindness touched generations, and her legacy will continue to shine through the lives of all who were blessed to know her.  Pearly's love for her family and friends was evident to all who knew her.  She was a genuinely selfless, caring, and giving person who always showed compassion to those around her and to those who were in need.  She was a devoted, loving daughter, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and great friend.

Her Journey's End:

On December 9, 2025 at 12:57 PM, God stood by the bedside of Peal with outstretched hands and said come my child, it is time to go home.  And within the blinking of an eye, Pearl exhale her final breath on this earth and inhaled her very first breath into eternity, and she transitioned to be with the Lord, surrounded by her loving daughter Patricia and her two great nieces, Doris White and Yolanda White-Pulliam.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, Willie & Alberta Neal; son, Lee Verdict Neal; her sisters, Maggie Lee Neal-Banks, Maryann Neal-Burns, Bessie Mae Neal-Martin, Lillie Mae Neal and Lois Helen Neal.

Her two children were the complete love and pride of her life, and she was devoted to caring for them and took exceptional care of them.  Her loving heart extended to her dedicated, and loving daughter and lifelong caregiver, Missionary Patricia Ann Neal of Cleveland, Mississippi; her grandchildren whom she helped raised as her own, Antonio Lorenzo Neal & Alicia Denise Neal of Cleveland, Mississippi; her granddaughter, RacDonna Clark-Rich(James) of Memphis, Tennessee, her great-granddaughter, Tichina Terrell of Cleveland, Mississippi, her very special great-granddaughter whom she helped raised and affectionately named-:Booda"-Valencya La'Naya Jones of Cleveland, Mississippi, her great-great grandchildren, Kirsten Terrell & Rashad Brooks of Cleveland, Mississippi, a special niece & caregiver, Patrice White of Erie, Pennsylvania, one Goddaughter, Marylin Conrod of Renova, Mississippi, a special niece & caregiver, Alberta Burns of Cleveland, Mississippi and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and dear friends.